Apparatus for removing coke from stills



C. B. BUERGER.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING COKE FROM STILLS.

Al'iLlCM'lON mm mm. 11. 1919.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

c. B. BUERGEB. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING COKE FROM STILLS.

L APPLICATION FILED MAR.11,1919. 1,401,310.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

evel

64 ATTORNEY.

ailmzfu/ @E/VTOR v .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING COKE FROM STILLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Original application filed February 7, 1918, Serial No. 215,764. Divided and this application filed March 11, 1919. Serial No. 281,914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BUERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia county of Philadelphia, and State of l ennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Apparatus for Removing 4 goke from Stills, of which the following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates to apparatus for removing coke or deposit from stills employed in oil refineries for reducing or distilling petroleum or petroleum distillate or residuum.

Itis the object of my invention to provide apparatus which will make it possible promptly after completion of a still run, and without the loss of time incident to the cooling of the still and contents to a temperature makin it possible for still cleaners to enter the sti l as in the old and common practice, to remove the coke or practically solid deposit from the stillwith greater economy in time and labor, whereby the period during which the still is not in operation in treating or distilling oil is materially reduced, and, consequently the proportion of the time in which the still is in operation upon oil is materially increased. v

To these ends I have provided apparatus, of .thecharacter hereinafter described, in which there are employed within the still a plurality of frames, cages or pans.- within,

around and above which the coke or the like isdeposited and in which are withdrawn, preferably in succession, in a horizontal direction from the still, suitably constructed for the purpose, 'each frame, cage or pan removing theeontained and adjacent coke.

This application is a division from m prior application Ser. No. 215,764, upon which issued Letters Patent No. 1,302,761.

For an illustration of one of the forms my apparatus may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a still constructed and equipped in accordance with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan, of a structure illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a cage or frame.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the cage or frame of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, S represents an oil still, here shown of the horizontal cy-' lindrical type, suitably housed and supported by brickwork l forming beneath the still a firebox or combustion chamber F in which is developed the heat'transmitted to the still contents through the still bottom B for distillation purposes in well known manner.

A pipe 2 serves to carry off oil vapors roduced during the distillation process.

he still may be provided if desired with the usual manholes 3, 3 at its top and the manhole 4 at one end. At one end of the still at its bottom is a manhole 5 formed by a manhole member 6 whose lower side is of circular form' conforming to theshape of the still bottom and whose upper side is illustrated as horizontal, Fig 3, therebyv forming a manhole of relatively great width and of a. height preferably above the'levei of the coke de osited in the still. The member 6 has the ront flange 7 to which is bolted the flange 9 of the manhole cover 8.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated a cage or frame 10, rectangular in form, comprising the side members 11, 11 and-the diagonal member 12, all secured at opposite corners of the frame by rivets 13. And extending through the parts of the members 11 and 12 which are so held by the rivets are the holes 114, 14:for attachment of chains 15 or the ike.

The frame illustrated is one of many forms, it being understood that any other suitable shape or form is comprehended by my invention. For example, the frames may be triangular, hexagonal or any other suitable shape which will allow their placement close to each other within the still.

The frame illustrated has no bottom, and this is my preferred construction, though it will be understood that my invention is not limited to bottomless frames or cages, and that pans may be employed, which latter are comprehended within the terms frame and cage.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, these frames well lmown manner by application 10 are laid upon the bottom B ofthe still on the inside thereof in suitable numbers practically to completely cover the still bottom. The number of frames and their size is preferably such as to allow them to lie close to the still bottom notwithstanding the buckling of the same which occurs, in practice in this type of still due to the fact that the still bottom is operated at red heat. The

corners of the successive frames in the series .is closed by bolting on the cover 8. The

other still openings, as manholes 3 and 4, having been closed, oil to be treated is introduced into the still and operated upon in v of heat produced in the tire chamber F. p

During the process coke is deposited on the bottom of the still, and in it the frames 10 become embedded. As the still run approaches completion, the deposit becomes denser and denser and the final-step is ordinarily to run-to dryness, whereby coke or practically solid carbonaceous material lies to great depth on the still bottom. For this purpose the presenceof the metallic frames 10 is of advantage in that the numerous metal plates or strips of the frames readily conduct heat into the mass of coke or tar and assist in driving out all remnant oil.

When the still has been so run to dryness the run has been completed.

Thereupon, when necessary, steam is introduced into the still and allowed to flow for a time suflicient to displacethe residual vapors and combustible atmosphere.

Immediately the manhole cover 8 is loosened it may be hoisted to the position indicatedin Figs. 1 and 3 by any suitable hoisting apparatus 16 supported upon the bracket 17 carried by the still or otherwise suitably supported.

The chain 18, Fig. 2, is connected to the first frame 10 of the series, and connects to any suitable mechanism for exerting a pull upon the chain 18. For this purpose an or- --d1nary power driven Windlass or the like may be employed. In so pulling upon the chain 18 the first frame 10 is given more or less of a twisting or turning movement, thereby loosening the coke adhering thereto or disposed within the same and the neighboring parts of the coke are separated from the remainder of the mass and from the still bottom. This first frame is pulled out through the manhole'ii and in so moving transmits a pull through the chain 15 connecting to the second frame, which removes its mass of coke; then the chain 15 connected to the first frame of the second row is brought under tension, rotating or twisting the first frame of the second row and pulling it outwardly, and so on throughout the series, the frames of a row being successively pulled and more or less rotated and then the next rows in succession.

By this action substantially all the coke within the still, practically 85% thereof as has been found in practice, is removed a part at a time.

The coke when removed immediately after the completion of the run as described may be at red heat and upon contact with the air may burst into flame. In such case the llaming coke as it comes from the still is quenched, as by playing a hose thereon.

By the above described mode of oneration a gneat amount of heat existing within the still at the end of a run is removed by actually removing the hot coke itself; and it is the red heat of the coke which under the old and common practice necessitated the cooling of the still, requiring approx} mately six hours, before men could enter to break up the coke and remove it. When the hot coke has been removed in a relatively short time, say three quarters of an hour, as above described, after removal of the manhole cover 8, the still may be entered and the small remaining amount of coke swept out through the manhole 5, the coke coming freely away from the metal shell of the still. The manhole 5 is of such form that there is no ledge higher than the bottom B over which the frames and coke must be raised or drawn.

The frames, from which all coke has been removed outsidethe still, are then replaced in the still, the manhole cover 8 replaced and the still recharged for the next run.

By the above described method and apparatus a still of a given size may be cleaned and recharged for the next run in about three to six hours from the time thefire is drawn at the end ofthe preceding run, Whereas with a still of like size and character under the old and common practice the time elapsing has been about twelve hours.

Where under the old practice the still is run about sixty hours and is idle about twelve hours, by the method herein described a run of sixty hours is followed by an idle period of approximately only three to six hours, whereby the total time of a run comprising distillation and idle periods is reduced from about 72 hours to about 65 hours. This means that with a given still equipment far more oil can be treated in a given time, with the result that the investment in still structure is far more productive.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a horizontal cylindrical oil still having an opening in one end thereof, the lower boundary of said opening being arcuate and coinciding with the arcuate bottom of said still, of manhole structure having an arcuate portion surrounding the lower boundary of said opening, the inner arcuate wall of said manhole structure lying below the inner surface of the arcuate bottom of said still.

2. The combination with a horizontal cylindrical oil still, of a manhole structure forming a segmental opening whose lower.

arcuate edge conforms to the curved still bottom throughout substantially the arcuate width of said structure.

3. Apparatus for removing deposit from an oil still comprising a plurality of members adapted to be laid upon the still bottom, and means interconnecting said members for imparting thereto rotating and longitudinal movements. w

4. Apparatus for removing deposit from an oil still comprising a plurality of rigid frames adapted to be laid upon the still bottom, and flexible connections between said frames connecting them in chain.

5. Apparatus for removin deposit from an oil still comprising a rigid frame, said frame having a member extending across the same, and flexible connections at the ends of said member.

6. Apparatus for removing deposit from an oil still comprising a plurality of rectangular rigid frames, and flexible connections at corners of said frames connecting them in chain.

7. Apparatus for removing deposit from an oil still comprising a plurality of rigid, frames, and flexible connections at corners of said frames connecting them in chain.

8. Apparatus for removing deposit from an oil still comprising a plurality of rigid frames adapted to be laid in transverse rows upon the bottom of the still, and flexible connections between the frames of a row and between said rows.

9. The combination with an oil still, of a manhole structure having an opening extending to the still bottom, and a plurality of flexibly interconnected members disposed within said still and adapted to be withdrawn horizontally along the still bottom and through said manhole opening.

10. The combination with a horizontal cylindrical oil still, of a segmental manhole structure extending to the bottom at the end of said still, and a lurality of flexibly interconnected frames disposed within said still and adapted to be withdrawn horizontally through said manhole structure.

structure.

w'ardly through sai of flexibly interconnected frames disposed within sald still on its bottom and adapted to be withdrawn horizontally along the still bottom through said opening.

12. The combination with a horizontal cylindrical oil still, of a manhole structure forming an opening whose arcuate lower edge coincides substantially with the curved still bottom, and a flange on said manhole structure disposed on the outside of said still bottom and in contact therewith throughout substantially the arcuate width of said 13. The combination with a cylindrical oil still, of a segmental manhole structure whose arcuate portion corresponds substantially with the curved still bottom, and a plurality of flexibly interconnected frames disposed within said still upon its bottom in successive transverse rows and adapted to be withdrawn in succession through said manhole structure.

14.. The combination with a cylindrical oil still, of a segmental manhole structure tially with the curved still bottom, and a plurality of transverse rows of frames, means connecting adjacent frames of a row to cause a pull imparted to a frame'to exert a twist and pull upon the neighboring frame, and means for connecting the rows of frames in series.

15. The combination with an oil still, of a structu'reforming an opening coinciding substantially with thestill bottom, a plurality of frames upon the still bottom, connectors between said frames connecting them in series, each connector connected to such point of a frame that a pull upon said connector rotates said frame and thereafter pulls it in direction for exit from the still.

16. The combination with an oil still, of structure forming an opening coinciding substantially with the still bottom, a plurality of polygonal frames upon the still bottom, and connectors. connecting said frames in series, each connector extending from a corner of one frame to a corner of another frame later in the series, said other frame being so disiposed that a pull outstill openingproduces rotation followed by longitudinal movement of said other frame.

17. The combination with an oil still, of structure forming an opening coinciding substantially with the still bottom, a plurality of frames disposed in successive transverse rows upon said still bottom, and connectors connecting said iframes in series, each connector extending from a corner of one frame to a corner of another frame later in the series,

whose arcuate portion corresponds substansaid other frame structure forming an opening coinciding bottom, means connecting said frames in series whereby they may be withdrawn in succession through said opening, each frame having a diagonallyextending member, and connectors for connecting said vframes in series connected to the ends of said, diagonally extending members.

19. The combination with an oil still, of

substantially with the still bottom, a plurality of rectangular frames upon the still bottom placed with their sides substantially neonate parallel, and means connecting said frames in chain connected to corners of said lrames.

20. The combination with an oil still, of structure forming an opening coinciding substantially with the still bottom, a plurality or rectangular frames disposed in transverse rows upon said still bottom, the sides of said frames being substantially parallel with each other, and means for connecting said frames in series comprising flexible connectors connecting corners of said frames, whereby the frames are pulled in succession from the still and each frame first rotated with respect to the still bottom.

In testimony whereofhave hereunto afixed my signature this 4th day of March, 1919.

CHARLES E. BUERGER. 

